GB2213997A

GB2213997A - Horn antenna arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2213997A
Application number: GB8729914A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Massey
Original assignee: Philips Electronic and Associated Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Philips Electronics UK Ltd
Priority date: 1987-12-22
Filing date: 1987-12-22
Publication date: 1989-08-23
Also published as: EP0322954A2; US4903038A; EP0322954A3

Description

t x, " 13997 /- Z 1 PHB33423 HORN ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT The invention

relates to a horn antenna arrangement comprising an H-plane sectoral horn wherein with reference to a cylindrical co-ordinate system having a rectilinear z-axis which is normal to a reference plane parallel to the H-plane. the sectoral horn has a wide angle of flare about the z- axis in the reference plane, said dngte of flare being not greater than 360 degrees. the sectoral horn being bounded over the whole of said angle of flare by conductive surfaces spaced apart in the z-direction and conductively connected to conductive planar side surfaces arranged radially to the z-axis at each end of the angle of flare, and wherein the aperture of the horn substantially conforms to a notional surface which is cylindrical about the z-axis, in combination with a feeder waveguide formed between substantia-1ly orthogonally disposed first and second pairs of parallel spaced conductive surfaces, said feeder waveguide extending from the throat of the sectoral horn and being provided with launching means for launching radio-frequency energy along said feeder waveguide towards said horn substantially only in a fundamental mode over an operating frequency range. Since an antenna is reciprocal in nature it is to be understood that the feeder waveguide can additionally or alternatively receive microwave energy from the throat of the horn in substantially only said fundamental mode over the operating frequency range.

Such an antenna may be used in a broad-band direction-finding system comprising a set of N adjacent similar such antennas whose respective main beam axes are spaced at regular angular intervals of (360/N) degrees (normally in azimuth). An R.F. source whose direction relative to the system is to be found may be detected by summing the output signals of all the antennas, and sa.id direction may be established by comparing the magnitudes of the output signals of a suitable pair of adjacent antennas of the set. In order to provide substantially the same probability of detection of an R.F. source for all angles in azimuth and in order to provide optimum accuracy in establishing the direction of the source, it is 2 PHB33423 desirable that the power level of an antenna main beam (relative to its peak level) in a direction corresponding to the main beam axis of an adjacent antenna, i.e. at an angle of plus or minus (360/N) degrees to its own main beam axis, should lie approximately in the range of -8 dB to -15 d13 over the operating frequency range of the system.

An antenna as set forth in the first paragraph of this specification is disclosed in the Applicants' U.K. Patent GB 2 090 068 B. In that antenna, electromagnetic energy is launched into the horn towards the aperture (or mouth) of the horn by a rectangular waveguide having a pair of opposed E-plane ridges. In order to obtain a substantially constant beamwidth over an operating frequency range of 3:1 which includes a band of frequencies immediately above the cut-off frequency of the TE0,0) mode, the ridges are spaced along the waveguide from the throat of the horn: in practice, the generation of the TE3,0) mode by the ridged waveguide is adjusted on test to be so phased with respect to the horn as to minimise variations of beamwidth with frequency in said band immediately above the TE0,0) cut-off frequency.. Without this phasing correction the higher order modes which are generated by the abrupt transition from the rectangular waveguide feed at the throat of the horn, will also be radiated and the phase relation between these higher order modes and the fundamental mode will vary with frequency. This generally results in a radiation pattern which varies greatly with frequency. The aforementioned phasing correction attempts to overcome these variations by at least partial cancellation and results in some reduction in beamwidth variation.

It is an objection of the invention to provide an improved sectoral horn antenna arrangement in which the sector.1 horn can be fed from a feeder waveguide so that excitation and radiation of higher modes can be substantially reduced and variations in beam width with frequency can be reduced.

According to the invention there is provided a horn antenna arrangement of the kind specified, characterised in that i i7 C' 4 1 lk 11 1 3 PHS33423 electromagnetic energy is launched by said launching means so as to propagate along said feeder waveguide substantially only in the fundamental TE0,0) waveguide mode characterised by a planar wavefront, and in that said feeder waveguide includes a mode-converting section at the input of which the waveguide has a planar elongate input cross- section transverse to the direction of flow of said radio frequency energy along the waveguide, which is--bounded by said orthogonally disposed pairs of parallel spaced conductive surfaces, and the longer dimension, namely the width, taken along the longitudinal median axis of the input cross-section, is at least four times the height in a direction orthogonal to said median axis, the H-plane of said fundamental TE0,0) waveguide mode in said cross- section being parallel to said longitudinal median axis, said mode- converting section having an output cross-section transverse to the direction of radio frequency energy flow of circumferential form which conforms substantially to a notional cylindrical surface whose cylindrical axis is the z-axis, and the longer and the shorter boundaries of the output cross-section are substantially parallel to the H-plane of the sectoral horn and to the z-axis, respectively, said output cross-section corresponding to the throat of the sectoral horn, and the waveguide forming said mode-converting section is so shaped that the path length for the flow of said radio frequency energy therethrough is substantially the same for all respective propagation paths parallel to the local energy propagation direction in the mode-converting section and each connecting a respective pair of corresponding points in said cross-sections at the respective ends of the mode-converting section, the arrangement being such that substantially only the lowest order' horn mode M0,1) is excited in the sectoral horn by said radio frequency energy.

The width of the planar input cross-section of the mode-converting section can be greater than six times the height and is preferably from nine to eleven times the height thereof and 35 said planar input cross- section can be arcuate in form with the 4 PHB33423 longitudinal median axis thereof monotonically curvilinear, preferably a circular arc.

Although it is possible to make the mode-converting section rectilinear it is preferable that the plane containing the planar input cross-section thereof should be inclined to the z-axis and a convenient arrangement is that the z-axis should be normal to the plane containing said planar input cross section. This means that--the mode-converting section must in the longitudinal direction be gradually curved through the corresponding angle.

The remainder of the feeder waveguide can comprise a waveguide whose planar cross section is uniform and corresponds to that of the planar input cross section of the mode-converting section.

-Alternatively, the remainder of the feeder waveguide can comprise a conventional rectangular waveguide followed by a rectilinear height reducing section which can either feed the modeconverting section directly or,. in the case_of the arcuate planar input cross-section, via a curvature transition section which is so shaped that a waveguide phase pattern in the planar input cross-section of the transition is correspondingly mapped in the planar arcuate output cross-section which corresponds to the input of the mode-converting section. The height-reducing section and the curvature transition section must also involve smooth gradual transitions in order to reduce as far as possible generation of higher order modes.

Theoretical modelling shows that if only one of the horn modes Mm,1), is excited then the H-plane radiation pattern remains almost constant over a wide bandwidth. In practice only the lowest order (fundamental) horn mode M0,1) should be excited in the horn flare because the use of a higher order Mm,1) mode can lead to undesirable features in the E-plane beam pattern. The feeder should therefore supply the horn flare with only the ltter's fundamental mode. The horn modes are referred to herein using the convention employed in "Time Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields" by R.F. Harrington, published by MeGraw Hill (1961).

The invention is based on the realisation that the fundamental mode of the horn flare at, for example, the throat of an H-plane 1 11 1 PHB33423 sectoral horn when taken on a cross-section of constant radius about the z-axis, is similar to the fundamental TE0,0) mode of a rectangular waveguide when taken on a planar cross-section transverse to the waveguide, and that by introducing between, say a rectangular waveguide and the throat of a sectoral horn, a suitable waveguide transition in which all the phase-points on a planar i-nput cross-section are directly mapped onto corresponding phase-points on an output cross-section conforming to a horn throat which is cylindrical about the z-axis via propagation paths of equal length, a substantially matched conversion of a fundamental waveguide mode excited in the feeder guide, into the fundamental horn mode, can be achieved.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figures la and 1b are diagrams illustrating in a general manner a prior horn antenna arrangement, Figures 2a and 2b are plan and side elevation sectional diagrams of a sectoral horn, Figure 3 is an exploded diagram illustrating a horn antenna arrangement in accordance with the invention, Figure 4 is an enlarged diagram illustrating the mode-converting section forming part of Figure 3, Figure 5a is a perspective diagram partly in section illustrating an alternative horn antenna arrangement in accordance with the invention, Figure 5b is a cross-section of part of Figure 5a, and Figure 6 is a graph illustrating the performance of the arrangement of Figure 5.

Figures la and 1b are diagrams illustrating in general form, in plan and in vertical section, respectively, a horn'antenna arrangement of the kind specified in the introductory paragraph. The horn antenna arrangement comprises an H-plane sectoral horn 1 in combination with a feeder waveguide 2. The sectoral horn 1 can conveniently be described with reference to a cylindrical co-ordinate system having a rectilinear z-axis 3 which is normal to 6 PHB33423 a reference plane 4 which is parallel to the H-plane of the sectoral horn. The sectoral horn 1 has a wide angle of flare, phi, about the z-axis 3 in the reference plane 4. and is bounded over the whole angle of flare by electrically conductive surfaces 5.6. spaced apart in the z-direction about the reference plane 4. The horn 1 is further bounded by electrically conductive planar side s.urfaces 7.8. arranged radially to the z-axis at each end of the angle of flare, phi, which are conductively connected to the upper and lower surfaces 5,6. The radiating aperture of the sectoral horn 1 substantially conforms to a notional surface 10 which is cylindrical and of radius R about the z-axis. In Figures la and lb, the throat of the horn 1 is represented by the junction 11 between the horn 1 and the feeder waveguide 2.

The feeder waveguide 2 is formed between substantially orthogonally disposed first and second pairs of parallel spaced conductive surfaces 12,13 and 14,15, respectively. The feeder waveguide 2 shown in Figures la and 1b is a rectangular waveguide whose cross section has a width a greater than the height b. The feeder waveguide 2 extends back from the throat 11 of the sectoral horn 1 and is provided with launching means 16 in the form of a probe connected to the centre conductor of a coaxial feed cable 17. The launching probe 16 can be associated with a waveguide ridge in conventional manner in order to extend the bandwidth of the coupling. The probe 16 is arranged to launch the fundamental mode TE0,0) of the rectangular waveguide 2 and the guide is dimensioned so that the fundamental mode is the only one supported over the operational frequency range.

The horn antenna arrangement thus described with reference to Figures la and 1b is illustrative of prior antenna'arrangements and suffers the disadvantage that the abrupt transition fr.om a rectangular guide 2 to the flare of the sectoral horn 1 at the throat 11 causes higher horn modes than the fundamental horn mode TWO,,1) to be generated by the transition and propagated and radiated by the horn. By a process of interference between the higher and the fundamental modes, the radiation pattern in the 6 il 7 11 -11 1 PHB33423 H-plane is caused to vary considerably with frequency, whereas in the absence of higher horn modes the radiation pattern due to the fundamental mode provides a beam width which is substantially constant with frequency over a considerable frequency span of about 3 to 1. The aforementioned UK Patent GB 200900068 B discloses a horn antenna arrangement in which a symmetrical pair of E-plane..

r idges are set in a rectangular waveguide feeder which is slight(y tapered out towards the horn and is provided with a section of plain rectangular waveguide between the end of the ridges and the throat of the horn. The E-plane ridges cause higher order modes to be generated in the waveguide. and in practice it has been found possible to adjust the phase of these higher order modes relative to those generated by the waveguide-to-horn transition so that the higher modes generated by the different processes interact at the horn mouth and at least partially cancel one another to give a more uniform beamwidth with frequency. This arrangement, relying as it does on balancing one source of higher modes against another, is unsatisfactory, however, and tends to give uncertain results.

As a basis for a horn antenna arrangement in accordance with the invention it was realised that because the fundamental mode M0,1) in the flare of the sectoral horn 1, conforms in the reference plane 4 to a circumferential pattern which can be thought of as propagating outwardly as a sequence of phase surfaces whose projections in the plane 4 are circular arcs centred on the z-axis 3 of progressively increasing radius. the throat of the horn should also conform substantially in cross-section to a further notional cylindrical surface whose cylindrical axis is the z-axis. It was then realised that the fundamental M0,1) horn mode field distribution around a cylindrical throat cross-section matches the field distribution in a planar cross-section of a rectangular waveguide when excited in only the fundamental TE0,0) mode.

Therefore in accordance with the invention the feeder waveguide is provided with a mode-converting waveguide section which is shaped along the propagation direction so that the fundamental TE0,0) waveguide mode applied at a planar input 8 PHB33423 cross-section is converted to a fundamentaL horn mode TM(0,1) at cyLindricaL output cross section which matches the cyLindricaL throat cross section of the sectoraL horn. This is iLLustrated in Figures 2a and 2b which are diagrams representing a sectoraL hor, n 19 in horizontaL and verticaL section, respectiveLy. In Figure 2a taken in the reference pLane 4 referred to in Figure la,, the H-fieLd of the fundamentaL mode TM(0,1) is Mustrated by dashed

Lines. The notionaL cyLindricaL surface 20 centred on the z-axis to which the cross-section of the throat 21 of the horn conforms, is indicated in Figure 2b.

Thus in a horn antenna arrangement in accordance with the invention and Mustrated in an expLoded diagram in Figure 3, the feeder waveguide 2 incLudes a mode-converting section 25 at the input 26 of which the feeder waveguide 2 has a pLanar eLongate cross-section transverse to the direction of fLow of radio-frequency energy aLong the waveguide which is bounded by the orthogonaLLy disposed pairs of paraLLeL spaced conductive surfaces 12,13, and 14,15, forming the waLLs of the feeder waveguide 2. The Longer dimension of the eLongate input cross-section 26, referred to herein as the width, taken aLong the LongitudinaL median axis 28 of the cross-section 26 is at Least four times the height of the cross section 26 in a direction orthogonaL to the axis 28. In practice it is desirabLe for the width to be greater than six times the height, and preferabLy to Lie in the range nine to eLeven times the height. In the present exampLe the width is ten times the height and this forms a satisfactory compromise between the requirement that the fundamentaL rectanguLar waveguide mode shouLd be maintained with the Least risk of higher modes being generated which necessitates that the height be smaLL compaeed with the width, and the fact that too great a reduction in the.height reLative to the width wiLL eventuaLLy Lead to unacceptabLe energy Loss.

As iLLustrated in Figure 3 and the enLarged diagram of the mode-converting section 25 Mustrated in Figure 4, the waveguide pLanar cross-section 26 at the input of the section 25, is arcuate ll S l r, 9 PHB33423 and the longitudinal median axis 28 thereof is monotonically curvilinear and.. in the present example. forms a circular arc. The H-plane of the fundamental TE0,0) mode of the feeder waveguide 2, is parallel to the longitudinal median axis 28 of the planar transverse input cross-section 26.

The mode-converting section 25 has an output cross-section 30 transverse to the direction of radio-frequency energy flow therethrough of circumferential form which conforms substantially to a notional cylindrical surface whose cylindrical axis is the z-axis. The cross-section 30 is elongate and the longer and shorter boundaries 31 and 32 are substantially parallel to the H-plane of the sectoral horn and to the z-axis, respectively. The output cross-section 30 corresponds to the cylindrical throat 21 of the sectoral horn 19.

The waveguide forming the mode-converting section 25 is shaped between the input cross-section 26 and the output cross-section 30 so that the path length for the flow of radio-frequency energy through the section 25 is substantially the same for all respective propagation paths parallel to the local energy propagation direction, each path connecting a respective pair 40,41 or 42,43 of corresponding points in the input and output cross-sections 26,30, respectively.

The shape of the mode-converting section 25 can readily be derived by means of a computer program. The constraints are set by the form of the planar input and cylindrical output cross-section and the aforesaid constant distance between the corresponding input and output points. A further constraint is that changes of direction of radio- frequency energy through the section should be smooth and gradual in order to reduce as far as possIble the generation of higher modes.

Thus the mode-converting section 25 takes the waveguide mode at the input 26 which corresponds to the fundamental TE0,0) mode of a rectangular waveguide, albeit with an increased ratio of width to height, across a planar section, and converts it at the output into the fundamental M0,1) mode in a cylindrical transverse PHS33423 section which is characteristic of the required fundamental mode of the sectoral horn. Because no significant amount of energy is converted into higher modes, the output beam of the horn can have the required uniformity of beamwidth over the desired wide operational frequency band.

In the shape of the section 25 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the p-lanar input cross-section 26 is contained in a plane which is inclined to the z-axis of the sectoral horn and in the example the z-axis is normal to the plane of the cross-section 26.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the remainder of the feeder 2 comprises a conventional rectangular waveguide 35 whose cross-section has a width a which is greater than the height b, and provided at the closed end 37 with a conventional launching probe 16 connected to the centre conductor of a coaxial feed cable 17 and conventionally associated with a short waveguide ridge, if desired, in order to extend the bandwidth of the coupling. The probe 16 is arranged to launch the fundamental TE0,0) mode in the rectangular waveguide 35 in which the H-plane is parallel to the width direction, and the guide is dimensioned so that the fundamental mode is the only one supported over the operational frequency range.

The ratio of width to height of a conventional rectangular waveguide is relatively small i.e. about 2:1. Consequently, in order to increase this ratio to 10:1 in the present example, a rectilinear transition section 50 is provided, fed by the rectangular waveguide section 35, which gradually reduces the height dimension of the cross-section of the feeder waveguide 2 until the ratio of the width a to the height b is substantially the same as the corresponding ratio associated with the planar input cross-section 26 of the mode-converting section 25.

In order to match the reduced height rectangular output cross-section of the rectilinear transition section 50 to the arcuate planar input cross-section 26 of the mode-converting section 25, the section 50 is followed by a curvature transition section 52 whose planar input cross-section 53 corresponds to the 4 T k tl If' v PHB33423 output cross-section of the rectilinear transition section 50, and having an output planar cross-section 54 which corresponds to the arcuate planar input cross-section 26 of the mode-converting section 25. The curvature transition section is shaped in a gradual manner along its length so that the path length for the flow of radio-frequency energy therethrough is substantially the same for all respective propagation paths, for example 55, parallel to the energy propagation direction within the curvature transition section 52 and each connecting a respective pair 56,57, of corresponding points in the respective planar input and output cross-sections 53.54. of the curvature transition section 52. The progressive transverse curvature applied to the reduced height rectangular waveguide section at the input 53 in passing along the section 52. is made smooth and gradual so that no significant amount of energy is transferred to higher waveguide modes. The shape of the curvature transition section 53 can be readily effected by computer as in the case of the mode-conversion section.

In order to preserve the fundamental rectangular waveguide mode pattern in the curvature transition section 52. both the height and the width of the guide cross-section is maintained substantially constant although it will be understood that the width is measured along the longitudinal median axis. e.g. 28. of the cross-section as it is made progressively more curved along the length of the transition section 52.

On the other hand. in the case of the mode-conversion section 25, in which the planar input cross-section is converted into a cylindrical output cross section. the width of the cross-section of the mode-conversion section 25 measured along the median axis.

e.g. 28. of the cross-section. will be subjected to a progressive and gradually increasing rate of increase (flare) until the latter equals the flare angle of the sectoral horn at the output cross-section 30. The height of the cross-section of the mode-converting section 25 can also have a. smaller. gradually increasing amount of flare which. at the throat 21 of the sectoral horn 19, has the same flare angle as the horn flare angle in a 12 PHB33423 plane containing the z-axis.

Figure Sa illustrates in perspective and partial section, an alternative embodiment of a horn antenna arrangement according to the invention. in which a sectoral horn antenna 59 having a flare angle of 180 degrees, is fed via a mode-converting section 25 of the feeder waveguide 2. In this embodiment. the remainder of the feeder waveguide comprises a waveguide 60 whose planar cross-section which is illustrated in the sectional diagram Figure 5b, is uniform and corresponds to the planar input cross-section of the mode-converting section 25 which in the example illustrated extends over a semicircular arc.

It has been found that this cylindrically distorted form of a flat rectangular waveguide, can be excited in the fundamental mode corresponding to the TE0,0) mode of a rectangular waveguide, by means of a conventional probe. Thus the waveguide 60 is excited by a probe 61 placed symmetrically about the centre line of the waveguide 60 and connected to the central conductor of L coaxial feeder 62. A tapered ridge 63 is provided adjacent the probe, in conventional manner in order to provide a wide bandwidth feed.

Theoretical calculations made by the inventor and confirmed by measurement have shown that the MB beamwidth of a sectoral horn in the H- plane, is one half the corresponding angle of flare. The sectoral horn antenna shown in Figure 5 has a flare angle of 180 degrees which therefore implies a MB beamwidth of 90 degrees. Two of the antennas of Figure 5 can be mounted back to back vertically on a mast and a further back-to-back pair of similar antennas can be mounted above or below the first pair and oriented at 90 degrees thereto to enable a 360 degree azimuth coverage to be obtained in a direction-finding arrangement.

The performance of one example of the horn antenna of Figure 5 is illustrated in Figure 6 by a graph of the beam width theta at MB and lOdB down over the central response against frequency. It will be apparent that the beamwidth remains substantially steady over a frequency range of three to one. This is about the limit of the performance using a rectangular waveguide feed, because 11 T 19 1 13 PHB33423 providing that the aperture radius of the sectoral horn is sufficiently large, the wide-band performance of this horn is substantially only limited by the ability of the rectangular waveguide feed to supply only one mode. Since the coaxial feed is placed symmetrically about the centre line of the waveguide it can only generate symmetrical modes in the waveguide and this means that the feeder will carry only the fundamental mode over a three to one bandwidth. However at frequencies above this band, higher order symmetric modes can propagate in the waveguide.

From reading the present disclosure. other modifications wilt be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features which are already known in the design, manufacture and use of sectoral horn antennas. feeders and component parts thereof and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present application also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to 25' such features andlor combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

14 PHB33423

Claims

CLAIMS)

1. A horn antenna arrangement comprising an H-plane sectoral horn wherein with reference to a cylindrical co-ordinate system having a rectilinear z-axis which is normal to a reference plane parallel to the H-plane, the sectoral horn has a wide angle of flare about the z-axis in the reference plane, said angle of flare being not greater than 360 degrees. the sectoral horn being bounded over the whole of said angle of flare by conductive surfaces spaced apart in the z-direction and conductively connected to conductive planar side surfaces arranged radially to the z-axis at each end of the angle of flare, and wherein the aperture of the horn substantially conforms to a notional surface which is cylindrical about the z-axis, in combination with a feeder waveguide formed between substantially orthogonally disposed first and second pairs of parallel spaced conductive surfaces, said feeder waveguide extending from the throat of the sectoral horn and being provided with launching means for launching radio-frequency energy along said feeder waveguide towards said horn substantially only in a fundamental mode over an operating frequency range, characterised in that electromagnetic energy is launched by said launching means so as to propagate along said feeder waveguide substantially enly in the fundament TE0,0) waveguide mode characterised by a planar wavefront, and in that said feeder waveguide includes a mode-converting section at the input of which the waveguide has a planar elongate input cross-section transverse to the direction of flow of said radio frequency energy along the waveguide, which is bounded by said orthogonally disposed pairs of parallel spaced conductive surfaces. and the longer dimension. namely the width, taken along the longitudinal median axis of the input, cross-section.. is at least four times the height in a'direction orthogonal to said median axis. the H-plane of said fundamental TE0,0) waveguide mode in said cross-section being parallel to said longitudinal median axis, said mode-converting section having an output cross-section transverse to the direction of radio frequency energy flow of circumferential form which conforms substantially to Z 4 11 is PHB33423 a notional cylindrical surface whose cylindrical axis is the z-axis, and the longer and the shorter boundaries of the output cross-section are substantially parallel to the H-plane of the sectorat horn and to the z- axis, respectively, said output cross-section corresponding to the throat of the sectoral horn, and the waveguide forming said mode-converting section is so shaped that the path length for the flow of said radio frequency energy therethrough is substantially the same for all respective propagation paths parallel to the local energy propagation direction in the mode-converting section and each connecting a respective pair of corresponding points in said cross-sections at the respective ends of the mode-converting section, the arrangement being such that substantially only the lowest order horn mode M0,1) is excited in the sectoral horn by said radio frequency energy.

2. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said width of said planar input cross-section is greater than six times said height.

3. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said width of said planar input cross-section is from nine to eleven times said height.

4. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said planar input cross-section is arcuate and the longitudinal median axis thereof is monotonically curvirinear.

5. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that said planar input cross-section is formed as a circular arc.

6. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plane containing said planar input cross-section is inclined to the z-axis.

7. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the z-axis is normal to the plane containing said planar input crosssection.

8. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in any one of the 16 PHS33423 preceding claims, characterised in that the remainder of said feeder waveguide comprises a waveguide whose planar cross-section is uniform and corresponds to the planar input cross-section of the mode-converting section.

9. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that said launching means is a coaxial to waveguide mode-transducer in the form of a probe.

10. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that an E-plane ridge is disposed adjacent said probe and has a height which decreases with distance from the probe so as to increase the bandwidth of the launching probe.

11. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7. characterised in that the remainder of said feeder waveguide comprises a rectangular waveguide having a transverse section whose width is a and whose height is b, where a is greater than b, and which is provided with launching means for launching a fundamental TE0,0) mode in which the Hplane is parallel to the width direction, followed by a rectilinear transition section of guide which gradually reduces the height dimension of the feeder waveguide cross-section so that the ratio of the width a to the height b is substantially the same as the ratio of the width to the height of said planar input cross-section of said mode-converting section.

12. A horn antenna arrangement as claimed in Claim 11 when dependent on Claim 4 6r Claim 5 or on either Claim 6 or Claim 7 when either are dependent on Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that said rectilinear transition section is followed by a curvature transition section whose planar input cross-section corresponds to the cross-section at the output of said rectilinea-r transition section, and whose output planar cross-section corresponds to the arcuate planar input cross-section of the mode-converting section, said curvature transition section being so shaped in a gradual manner that the path length for the flow of said radio frequency energy therethrough is substantially the same for all respective propagation paths parallel to the energy propagation direction in 2 17 PHB33423 the curvature transition section and each connecting a respective pair of corresponding points in the respective planar input and output cross- sections of the curvature transition section substantially without generating any higher waveguide modes.

13. A horn antenna arrangement comprising an H-plane sectoral horn having a wide angle of flare, in combination with a feeder waveguide, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 or to Figures 4, 5a and 5b of the the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office. State House. 6671 High Holborn London WC R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BRS 3RD Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1,8-,-